Forston a sleeper?

Saturday

May 12, 2012 at 3:02 PM

FOXBORO - Coming out of Northwestern High in Miami, Marcus Forston was one of the elite defensive lineman in the country. He chose to stay home and play for Miami, spurning offers from Florida, Florida State and Southern California. After starting ei

Kevin McNamara Journal Sports Writer kevinmcnamara33

FOXBORO - Coming out of Northwestern High in Miami, Marcus Forston was one of the elite defensive lineman in the country. He chose to stay home and play for Miami, spurning offers from Florida, Florida State and Southern California. After starting eight games and earning freshman All-America honors in 2008, Forston's career became marked by something always going wrong.

In his second year, he played in only three games before being redshirted with an ankle injury. In 2010, he bounced back and had the second-most tackles for a loss for the Canes but last fall he was suspended for the season opener by the NCAA for taking impermissible benefits while being recruited. He returned to start the next three games before a knee injury ended his season.

Even so, he surprised many scouts by declaring for the draft. The 6-3, 300-pounder is extremely strong (benched 225 pounds 35 times at the combine) but was not drafted. Now he says he's simply happy to get a chance.

"No regrets. I'm just glad to be a Patriot," he said. "I'm going to work hard and attack everything 110 percent."